Brad Thorn's Bledisloe Cup allegiances have shifted, with the All Blacks' great declaring his support for the Wallabies in Saturday's Test at Suncorp Stadium.
Thorn played 59 Tests for New Zealand but also represented Australia in rugby league in his storied dual-code career.
His split loyalties have been further tested with his appointment as Queensland Super Rugby coach -- meaning he has a direct hand in preparing his old trans-Tasman enemies for battle.
With the All Blacks training this week in Brisbane, Thorn caught up with former Highlanders teammate Kane Hames on Wednesday night but told reporters the next morning he wanted the Wallabies to win.
"I wish (the All Blacks) well but I'm also wishing the Wallabies well, too. It'd be good to see the Wallabies get a win," Thorn said.
"I went down there earlier in the year - they were working hard.
"It's a good young group coming through and you've seen them improve with each outing.
"There was a game there for them to have in Dunedin last time but it starts again; they've got to front again.
"If they have enough belief, care about each other enough (and) they play some good footy, they're in with as good as a chance as the All Blacks."
Thorn never knew what it was like to lose the Bledisloe Cup, having started his Test career in 2003 -- the year New Zealand's 15-year unbeaten streak began.
He ranked it as the second-most important trophy in the game, behind only the World Cup.
"I remember talking to Dan Carter about that; we were ranking that sort of stuff," he said.
"It's good to win the Rugby Championship -- I think that's what it's called still -- but the Bledisloe, there's something special about tucking that away.
"You saw the Irish beat the All Blacks in Chicago; you saw the (Richmond) Tigers in the AFL hadn't won a grand final (for 37 years).
"When a Wallaby team gets that shield back at some stage -- and they definitely will -- that will be a great moment.
"It's a pretty cool feeling when you raise that cup up and sip some lemonade or whatever out of it."
Meanwhile, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen hoped Thorn would become as good a coach at the Reds as he was a player.
"He has the makings of a really good coach if he is given time to really develop the skills he has and grows some more, as we all do," he said.
"He is certainly a guy who will have the work ethic and thought process to get where he needs to get to.
"He has been reasonably successful in all the teams he has been in.
"Now I look forward to seeing him grow and be as good a coach as he was a player.
"I hope it goes well for him - he is a good man."
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